This bug is there so long that I don't know why I'm even bothering. All this
time is evidence that it's a feature.
I'll try anyhow. Whenever one package obsoletes another (be it rsyslogd,
util-linux-ng or whatever, we have such change every few weeks), the version
numbers are a total mess. The one I see all the time is:
The following packages will be REPLACED:
compat-gcc (7.3-2.96.128)
(by ()
compat-libgcc-296) (7.3-2.96.128)
What is that "()\n " doing there?
What's the purpose of that second version?
I've seen more ugly examples when more packages were to be replaced (version
numbers appeared to come from other package pairs).
The way it should look is:
The following packages will be REPLACED:
compat-gcc (7.3-2.96.128)
(by compat-libgcc-296 (2.96-139))
This is apt-0.5.15lorg3.93-4.fc8.

I've made a small adjustment to the system to show how ugly can it be:
The following packages will be REPLACED:
compat-gcc (7.3-2.96.128) - compat-gcc's version, good
(by (1.4.2-5.fc7) - sysklogd's version :)
compat-libgcc-296) () - this version field is empty now
(7.3-2.96.128) - but look, here's a new one :)
sysklogd (1.4.2-5.fc7) - once again, proper version
(by () - silly empty field
rsyslog) (7.3-2.96.128) - compat-gcc's version again :)
Those are 7 lines and there's no mention of compat-libgcc-296 or rsyslogd's true
version :)

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and issuing updates for Fedora 9. It is Fedora's policy to close all
bug reports from releases that are no longer maintained. At that time
this bug will be closed as WONTFIX if it remains open with a Fedora
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plan to fix it in a currently maintained version, simply change the 'version'
to a later Fedora version prior to Fedora 9's end of life.
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we may not be able to fix it before Fedora 9 is end of life. If you
would still like to see this bug fixed and are able to reproduce it
against a later version of Fedora please change the 'version' of this
bug to the applicable version. If you are unable to change the version,
please add a comment here and someone will do it for you.
Although we aim to fix as many bugs as possible during every release's
lifetime, sometimes those efforts are overtaken by events. Often a
more recent Fedora release includes newer upstream software that fixes
bugs or makes them obsolete.
The process we are following is described here:
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/BugZappers/HouseKeeping

Created attachment 362370[details]
Correctly print a replacement line
Attached pacth "fixes" the problem. Now output should look like:
The following packages will be REPLACED:
compat-gcc (7.3-2.96.128) (by compat-libgcc-296)
sysklogd (1.4.2-5.fc7) (by rsyslog)
It does not print versions of replacement packages here,
but you can see them in 'NEW packages' section.